Successful Transjugular Portosystemic Shunt Treatment of Pediatric Sinusoidal Obstruction: Case Report and Review of Literature

BACKGROUND: In adults with medically refractory sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt (TIPS) has been used successfully to improve portal hypertension and symptoms such as ascites. There is limited data on the use of TIPS for SOS in pediatric patients. METHODS: The index case was reviewed retrospectively. PubMed and Medline databases were searched to identify other cases. RESULTS: A 4-year-old male with high-risk neuroblastoma, developed SOS after tandem autologous stem cell transplant. He was medically managed with defibrotide, diuretics, and peritoneal drainage, but, due to refractoriness, he underwent TIPS day +54 following bone marrow transplant. Hepatic venous pressure gradient improved from 17 to 8 mm Hg following TIPS placement with significant improvement in the patient’s clinical status and ascites. However, 15 months later, his shunt remained patent, and he remains clinically well with stable liver enzymes. A literature review identified 13 pediatric cases of TIPS for SOS due to varied causes. TIPS caused a median hepatic venous pressure gradient of 9 mmHg (range, 2–38 mm Hg). The mortality following the procedure was 15%, with 2 cases who died at 2- and 11-days post-TIPS. At the time of the last follow-up (range 8–25 months), 5 patients were alive, and 8 were lost to follow-up. CONCLUSION: We present here a pediatric case of SOS due to stem cell transplant treated successfully with TIPS with a review of the literature. A timely, individualized application of TIPS can be effective in treating children with medication-refractory SOS.